Georgian, Italian Presidents discuss Georgia’s EU’s prospects, Russia’s war in Ukraine in Rome

The President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili met with her Italian counterpart  Sergio Mattarella in Rome on Tuesday, where the politicians discussed Georgia’s EU integration prospects, Russia’s war in Ukraine and current geopolitical challenges. 

Zourabichvili dubbed Italy “a firm supporter of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration,” stating that the EU integration has been the choice of more than 80 percent of the country’s population. 

She stated that granting the EU candidate status to Georgia would be a “fair decision on the part of the bloc, confirming that Georgia has a European and democratic future.” 

“If the integration process is accelerated, then our reform process should be accelerated and it should not be accompanied by any delays. This is our bilateral cooperation and the way to Europe. We have talked and, in fact, this talk of the European integration process is inseparable from the discussion over Ukraine, over the brutal, Russian aggression against Ukraine, which concerns not only Ukraine, but the whole region,” Zourabichvili suggested. 

She said that Georgia experienced this aggression in 1921, 1991 and in  2008. 

Zourabichvili said that Europe’s main response to Russian aggression in Ukraine was,” first and foremost, to strengthen the country.” 

Mattarella stated that  Georgia and Italy shared the foundation on which the two countries were based, namely the condemnation of war, peaceful coexistence and the recognition of the country’s sovereignty and the integration of its political borders. 

“It is important to emphasize these facts, because Russia’s modern aggression against Ukraine seems to emphasize the need for a forceful solution to the problem. It happened in Georgia in 2008, in Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” Mattarella said.

He reaffirmed Italy’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

The Italian President suggested that Russian aggression in Ukraine has had a “great impact” on the region and had accelerated the partnership between Georgia and Europe.

“Georgia has thousands of years of experience. It is a member of European civilization and thus it is absolutely logical and understandable that it wants to become a full member of Europe. Italy supports Georgia’s aspirations,” Mattarella said.

He stated that the security of the Black Sea in the Caucasus concerned not only  Georgia, but everyone, “because it is a key  problem of the European community..”